Game



Nov. 14, 1933. H. E. BISAILLON ET AL I 1,935,174

GAME

Filed NOV. 21, 1931 IN V EN T0 RS. f/ec/or fizlmillon and M'lliam J HomeZ. BY

r I I I r A TTORN E Y .member;

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 UNITED ST S PATENT orricn Application November21,. 1931 Q Serial No. 576,552;

lil'Claims. (Cl. 273---102) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in games and hasparticular relation to a gamapparatuswhi-ch may be used either indoors or outdoors and which may beused in playing with marbles or'the like and which in a slightlymodified embodiment may be used in connection with an air rifle, pop gunor the like.

An object of the inventionis to provide an apparatus for use in playingmarbles or the like which apparatuswill enable the players to performwithout soiling their clothes and which apparatus may be used outdoorsor indoors as desired.

Another'object is to provide a game apparatus as indicated and which maybe easily equipped with means whereby it may be used as a shootinggallery.

A further object is to provide a game apparatus of the character statedand which is collapsible and be folded to occupy arelatively small spaceas for storing, transportation, shipping or the like.

An additional object is to provide an'apparatus as for the purposestated and which may be manufactured and'sold at a relatively low price.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection. with theaccompanying drawing wherein the invention is shown, However, it will beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the'details disclosedbut includes all such variations and modifications as fall within thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims to whichclaims reference should be had for a definition of the invention. I

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus or device complete; a I

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame of the device the cover andfloor being omitted; Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the bottom or floorsection alone; t

Fig. 4 is a viewof the frame alone showing the manner of folding orcollapsing the device;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional-view on an enlarged scale showing thetarget support and the manner of mounting the same when the deviceisused in a marble game; 7 7

Fig. 6 is a-perspective view showing a corner Fig. 7 is adetailedsection view on an enlarged scale and showing theconnectionbetween the upper or top section and the lower or floor section of thedevice; I V k r Fig. 8 is a detail elevational view on an enlarged scaleshowing a joint with the, parts extended;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the parts partly collapsed;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View showing the manner of mounting andthe location of the apron or bouncing board; and

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the device as equippedwhen used as a shooting gallery. I Y

Referring in detail to the drawing, the 'im- ,65 proved game apparatusincludes a body or housing generally indicated at 15 and which as shownis substantially in the form of a funnel having a large openfront endand gradually tapering toward its rear end. The housing includes a loworor floor section 16. comprising a somewhat U- shaped member 17preferably formed of a rod and including arms 18 and 19 and a relativelyshort connecting portion 20.

- To the free end of each of the arms l8and 19 .75 is secured a somewhatL-sha'ped corner or con necting member 21, said member having arms 22and 23. The free ends of the arms 18 and 19 extend into the arms orbranches 22 of the corner members 21 as most clearlyshown in Fig. 6 andwhen one of the corner members is arranged on, eachof the arms 17 and18' the branches 23 of the corner members will be facing one another. Afront or connecting rod 24 is inserted into the branches 23 ofthe corner'members whereby a substantially triangularly shaped frame is provided.a i

A floor or bottom'25 ofcardboard, canvas or other material is applied tothe triangular frame constructed as above described and this floor 25may be either permanently securedto the frame or removably securedthereto as desired. "Further, the floor 25 stops shortof the connectingbar 20 between the arms 18 and-l9 of the member 1'? whereby to. providean opening 26 through which marbles or the like .may pass in the use ofthe apparatus as will later appear.

'Any suitable means may be provided for supporting a target withinthebody or housing 15. As disclosed in Figs. 1, 3 and 5-the target, which 0is a marble. 27, is supported on an element 28 including a base and apair of depending lugs 29 adapted to be passed through spaced openings30 in the floor 25 wherebyto mount the element in the housing.Additionally, the element ineludes an upstanding portion 31 concave atits upper end whereby to support the target or marble27.'- I

The body or housing 15 includes an upper or top section comprising asubstantially triangular- 1 1y shaped frame 32. This frame 32 includes apair of members 33 and 34 which members are or may be identical orsubstantially identical and each of which members has one of its endsentering an arm 35 of a corner member which corner member is quitesimilar to the corner member 21 before referred to. The other branches36 of these top corner members are arranged to receive the respectiveends of a front connecting rod 37 forming the third side of thesubstantially "triangular frame 32.

Intermediate their ends the members 33 are doubled or turned uponthemselves whereby each 'is provided with an eye 38 and a shortextension 'or end member 39 which functions as a leg in the assembledstructure as will later be set forth. Prior to the assembling of themember 1'7 with the corner pieces 21 and the cross bar 24 the members 33and 34 are connected with the substantially U-shaped member 17. This isaccom 'plished by threading one of the arms of the member 17 through theeyes 38 of the members 33 and 34 whereby to so dispose the lattermembers that their eyes occupy the short connecting bar 20 between thearms 18 and 19 of the member 17.

It will be apparent that by the means described the members 33 and 34may have pivotal movement relative to the member 1'7 and it is preferredthat the length of the connecting portion 26 of the member 17 be suchthat said por- *tion is substantially entirely occupied by the eyes 38whereby the members 33 and 34 will have but limited lateral movementwhen assembled in the body or housing 15.

The L-shaped corner members of the upper and 'floor frames or sectionsare each preferably provided in their outer surfaces with tappedopenings as shown at 40 in Fig. 6 for the reception of pivot screws.Combined leg and frame members 41 and 42 are pivotally secured to theupper cor- 'ner members as at 43 and to the lower corner members as at44. These members 41 and 42 extend below the floor or lower section 16to provide legs 45. Here it should be noted that the legs 45 are longerthan the legs 39'whereby when "the device is set up ready for use thefloor 25 inclines from the rear of the housing toward the open frontthereof.

The leg members 40 and 41 each comprise upper and lower sections a and bpivotally connected whereby the sections may be folded inwardly tocollapse the device as suggested in Fig. 4. This collapsing of thehousing or body is, of course, made possible due to the pivoting of theeyes 38 on the connecting portion 20 and due to the pivotal connectionsbetween the members 41 and 42 and the upper and lower frame members aswell as to the pivotal connections between the sections a and b formingthe members 41 and 42.

Figs. 8 and 9 show on an enlarged scale the connection between thesections a and b of the members 41 and 42. In these figures it will beseen that the sections are permanently connected by a pin 46 carried byone of the sections as for example the section 12, operating in a slot47 shown as in the section a. Also, the member 22 is shown as carrying apin 48 arranged in spaced relation to the pin 46 and adapted to passinto an open ended notch 49 in the lower end of the section a when theparts are in extended position as shown in Fig. 8. Of course, thesection a may be made the lower section and the section b the uppersection, if desired.

When it is desired to collapse the housing or body 15 the section a ispulled upwardly relative to the section b whereby the pin 48 is nolonger in the notch 49 and the sections may then pivot relatively aboutthe pin 46. Of course, the target holder 28 is preferably removed beforethe device is collapsed. A covering of fabric or other material 50 isdisposed to cover the space between the members 33 and 34 of the frame32 and this fabric also closes the spaces represented by the sidetriangles formed at one side of the body by the arm 18 and members 33and 41 and at the other side of the body by the arm 19 and members 34and 42.

A sheet or strip of material 51 is arranged within the body 15 betweenthe target holder 28 and the opening 26 in the floor 25. This sheet 51is preferably suspended to have its lower edge disposed slightly abovethe floor 25 whereby a marble rolling along the floor may pass under thesheet although a marble passing inwardly of the housing above the floorwill have its force spent against the sheet 51 and will drop down andpass under the sheet and through the opening 26 into a box or otherreceptacle 52 arranged to collect the marbles.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1 an apron or bouncing board 53 is applied tothe front of the hous ing 15. This board 53 inclines as shown and servesto prevent marbles passing under the housing and additionally should amarble shot at the target fall short of the open end of the housing itwill hit the board 53 and bounce into the housing. This board or member53 may be formed of a sheet of cardboard or the like mounted in a metalframe 54 the upper ends of which are bent to provide hooks 55 engagedover the connecting bar 24, of the lower section or floor 16. The boardor apron 53 may therefore be easily applied or removed as the device isset up or collapsed.

It is thought that from the foregoing description the complete operationwill be apparent. Any desired rules for scoring points or otherwise may,of course, be adopted by the players and the players will shoot at thetarget 27. The shot marbles will enter the open end of the housing 15either directly from the players hand or after striking the bouncingboard 53 and the force of the marbles will be spent against the sheet51. 25 and pass through the opening 26 to the container 52. The upperedge of the'board 53 preferably extends beyond the hooked ends of theframe 54 as shown at 56 and is disposed above the front edge of thefloor 25 to prevent marbles passing outwardly off said edge. This is asbest shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 11 illustrates the housing or body 15 equipped whereby the devicemay be used as a shooting gallery. Preferably the device would be usedin connection with an air-rifle or popgun and to this end a tin or othermetal liner or member 57 is inserted into the housing or body 15 thesaid liner being shaped to substantially 58extending through the opening26 in the floor 25 and disposed to direct anything passing through theliner into the box or receptacle 52. When an air rifle is used thereceptacle 52 may be partially filled with sand or the like. A target 59of any preferred type is preferably suspended adjacent the mouth of thehousing and corks, BB shot or the like discharged at the target 59 willbe conducted into the receptacle 52.

Played marbles will roll on the floor )7 fill the body. At its rear endthe liner 57 includes a downwardly extending portion or spout When thedevice or apparatus is to be used as F ing of marbles.

I clothes.

suggested in Fig. 11 the target holder 28 and -U-shaped member tosupport the first pair of the sheet 51 may be removed and the member 57inserted into the housing. The member will rest on the floor 25 andbeing of metal will protect the covering 50 and will also serve tocollect and limit the flying about of shot and thereby preventaccidents. Obviously; the metal funnel-like member 5'7 and its target 59may be easily removed from the body or housing'l5 whereby the housingmay be used in the playwith marbles it will be noted that the players donot kneel in' the dirt and need not get their hands soiled after which,if-they are children, they would likely wipe their hands on their Itwill be appreciatedthat thehousing or body '15 of the presentapparatus-may be constructed of any desired material. The covering 50may be of fabric and thefioor 25 as well as the bouncing board 53 may beof fabric as shown. However, the frame is preferably of metal althoughit will be apparent that in certain embodiments the frame might well beof wood. Also, the bouncing board, floor and covering could, ifdesired,. be of wood, as for example, relatively thin boards.

Since the housing 15 is collapsible as above described it is preferredthat themetal funnel or member 57 also be collapsible. To this end themember 57 may be hinged at the junctures of its sides with its top andbottom as at 60 and may also have its sides formed'of sections hingedlytheir ends to provide each with an eye, said pair of frame membersassembled on the U-shaped member with the connecting portion of thelatter in the eyes of the pair of members, one of the ends of each ofsaid members extending to provide rear legs for the body, a second pairof members connecting the other. ends of the first pair of members tothe arms of the U-shaped member to support the first pair of members ininclined position above the U-shaped member, said second pair of membersextending below the U-shaped member to provide front legs for the body,a fioor supported by the U-shaped member, and a covering closing thespaces between the first pair of members and the first pair of membersand the arms of the U-shaped member whereby the body is substantiallyfunnel-shaped prising a floor section including a substantially U-shapedframe member having a relatively short connecting portion, a pair offrame members bent intermediate their ends to provide each with an eye,said pair of frame members assembled on the U-shaped member with theconnecting portion of the latter in the eyes of the pair of members, oneof the ends of each of said members extending to provide rear legs forthe body,'a second pair of members connecting the other ends of thefirst pair of members to the arms of the closing the spaces between thefirst pair of mem- *bers and the first pair ofmembers and the arms ofthe U-shaped member. i

' V 3. In an apparatus of the character described,

In the use of the apparatus members, in inclined position above theU-shaped membe'rjsaid second pair'of members extending belowthe U-shapedmember to provide front legs for the body, a floor supported by theU-shaped 30 member, said floor having an opening adjacent its rear, saidfront legs being of greater length than said rear legs whereby saidfloor is inclined away from the opening therein, and a covering ahollowbody, said body comprising a floor section including-a substantiallyU-shaped frame it member having a relatively short connectingportion,'a' pair of frame membersbent intermediate their endsto provideeach with an eye, said pair of frame'members assembled on the U-shapedmember with the connecting portion of the latter 1 in the eyes of thepair of members to form pivotal connections, one of the ends of each ofsaid members extending beyond said eyes to provide rear legs for thebody, a second pair of members connecting the other ends of the firstpair of members to the arms of the U-shaped member to support the firstpair of members in inclined position above the U-shaped member, saidsecond pair of members extending below the U-shaped member to providefront legs for the body, a fioor supported by the U-shaped member, saidfioor having an opening adjacent its rear, a covering closing the topspace between the first pair of members and the side spaces betweenthefirst pair of members and the arms .of the -U-shaped member whereby thebody is substantially funnel-shaped and open at its front end, saidsecond pair of members pivotally connected with the first pair .ofmembers and the arms of the U-shaped memher, .and said second pair ofmembers jointed bell tween said pivotal connections whereby thesec- 1ond pair of members may be collapsed to dispose the first pair ofmembers against the floor section of the body.

- 4. In an apparatus of the character described,

a hollow body, said body comprising a floor section including asubstantially U-shaped frame member having a relatively short connectingportion, a pair of frame members bent'intermediate their ends to provideeach with an eye, said pair of members assembled on the U-shaped memberwith the connecting portion of the latter in the eyes of thepair ofmembers to form a pivotal connection, one of the ends of each of saidmembers extending beyond said eyes to provide rear i-gggg legs for thebody, a second pair of members connecting the other ends of the firstpair of members to the arms of the U-shaped member to support the firstpair of members in inclined position above the U-shaped member, saidsecond pair of members extending below the U- shaped. member to providefront legs for the body, a floor supported by the U-shaped member, saidfloor having an opening adjacent its rear, a

covering closing the top space between the first $34.9,

the overlapping ends of said sections, a pin on one of the sections[inwardly of the overlapping ends thereof, and the other of saidsections having a notch in its overlapping end to receive said pin whenthe sections are in extended condition whereby the second pair ofmembers may be collapsed to dispose the first pair of members againstthe floor section of the body.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a hollow body, said bodycomprising a floor section including a substantially U-shaped framemember having a relatively short connecting portion, a pair of framemembers bent intermediate their ends to provide each with an eye, saidpair of frame members assembled on the U- shaped member with theconnecting portion of the latter in the eyes of the pair of members toform pivotal connections, a second pair of members connecting the otherends of the first pair of members to the arms of the U-shaped member tosupport the first pair of members in inclined position above the ushaped member, a floor supported by the U-shaped member, said fioorhaving an opening adjacent its rear, a covering closing the top spacebetween the first pair of members and the side spaces between the firstpair of members and the arms of the U- shaped member whereby the body issubstantially funnel-shaped and open at its front end, said second pairof members pivotally connected with the first pair of members and thearms of the U-shaped member, and said second pair of members jointedbetween said pivotal connections whereby the second pair of members maybe collapsed to dispose the first pair of members against the floorsection'of the body. I V

6. In a game apparatus of the character described, a housing comprisinga substantially flat floor section and a top section, a coveringenclosing said sections, and including flexible side wall portionsclosing the spaces between said sections, said sections arranged inintersecting planes and directly hingedly connected at their rear endportions, and means for maintaining said sections in extended conditionforming a housing with an open end, said means adapted to be collapsedto permit the sections to move to lie one on to the other. Y

7.; In an apparatus of the character described, a substantially funnelshaped housing open at its large front end, said housing including afloor inclining toward the front of the housing, said floor having anopening adjacent its rear end, a removable target holder in the frontportion of the housing, a metal liner within the housing, said metalliner open at its large front end, said liner shaped substantially thesame as the housing and said liner having its smaller end downturned toprovide a spoutportion extending through the opening in the floor of thehousing.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, av substantially funnelshaped housing open at its large front end, said housing including afloor inclining toward the'front of the housing, said floor having anopening adjacent its rear end, a removable target holder in the frontportion of the housing, means whereby the housing may Z be collapsedinto a substantially fiat condition, and a removable metal liner shapedto substantially fill the entrance to the housing and having adownturned open discharge end extending through the opening in the fioorof the housing. i1?

9. The combination as in claim 6,including a removable metal linershaped to substantially fill the entrance to the housing and having adownturned open discharge end extending through the opening in the fioorof the housing.

10. ihe combination as in claim2 including a removable metal linershaped to substantially fill the entrance to the housing and having adownturned open discharge end extending through the opening in the floorof the housing.

HECTOR E. BISAILLON. WILLIAM J. I-IAMEL.

